AB1211 DOES BODY MASS INDEX AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IMPACT ON FIBROMYALGIA?
Authors: G. Tramontano, V. Tomatis, M. Gilio, A. Giusti, F. Giarracca, R. Gallo, L. Bandi, G. Bianchi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Fibromyalgia (FBM), obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MTB) are common conditions with significant impact on health and quality of life, producing relevant economic burden for healthcare systems. Although obesity represents a negative prognostic factor for FBM, the relation between body mass index (BMI) or MTB and FBM severity is still unclear. Objectives The aim of our ongoing study was to evaluate the relationship between BMI or prevalent MTB and FBM severity, estimated with 3 different severity scores. Methods We included the first 100 women presenting with FBM, defined according to the ACR2016 diagnostic criteria, consecutively evaluated during the period of 1 year in 2 Clinic in Italy. On enrolment were assessed/recorded demographic, clinical and pharmacological characteristics, weight, height, physical activity, tenderness, pain and symptoms. The following scores were calculated: tender points count (TP), Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Polysymptomatic Distress Scale (PDS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and modified Fibromyalgia Assessment Status (mFAS). BMI was calculated, and the presence of MTB was evaluated according to current definition. Patients were categorized as presenting with severe disease or moderate/mild disease according to recent definition validated in an Italian population. The prevalence of MTB and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) BMI in subgroups defined according to severity were estimated. Results Mean age ±SD was 57.5±12.7 years, mean BMI ±SD was 25.3±5.1, and 9.5% presented with MTB. FBM severity (mean±SD) calculated by PDS, FIQ and mFAS was respectively 25.3±9.3, 63.2±23.1, and 30.1±7.7. Patients with the highest FBM severity according to PDS (&gt;25) were less likely to present with MTB (2.4%) compared to those with a PDS of 0-25 (20.0%, P=.026), with an adjusted (age and BMI) OR (95%CI) for presenting with MTB in patients with less severe FBM of 8.2 (0.962-69.925, P=.054). Similar results were found when the specific conditions characterizing the MTB were considered separately, except for excessive body fat around the waist (not related to severity). The BMI ±SD was comparable between patients with severe disease (25.8±5.8) according to PDS and those with less severe FBM (24.8±4.4, P=.388), with no correlation between BMI and PDS (Rho: 0.083, P=.454). Considering all other characteristics of the two groups defined according to PDS categories (PDS &gt;25 versus PDS 0-25) a significant difference was found in mean age ±SD, greater in patients with less severe FBM (60.2±13.2) compared to those with highest FBM severity (54.8±11.6, P=.046). Similar but less significant findings were found also with FIQ and mFAS. The prevalence of MTB according to the FIQ was 7.3% for highest severity versus 14.3% for less severe FBM (P=.200), with a comparable BMI ±SD between the two groups (respectively 26.2±6.1 versus 24.4±3.7, P=.125). Corresponding figures for MTB or BMI and FBM severity according to the mFAS were respectively: prevalence of MTB in highest severity 3.0% versus 16.3% in the less severe FBM (P=.078); mean ±SD BMI in highest severity 26.4±6.2 versus 24.6±4.2 in less severe patients (P=.121). Conclusion The preliminary results of our ongoing analysis demonstrated a slightly inverse relationship between FBM severity and the prevalence of MTB, trending to significance, while no relationship was found between severity and BMI. References [1]Salaffi F. Fibromyalgia Criteria and Severity Scales for Clinical and Epidemiological Studies: A Modification of the ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia. Rheumatology . Volume 60, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 728–736, [2]Migliorini F. BMI but not age and sex negatively impact on the outcome of pharmacotherapy in fibromyalgia: a systematic review. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Aug;14:1029-1038. [3]D’Onghia M. Fibromyalgia and obesity: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum . 2021 Apr;51:409-424. [4]Aparicio VA. Fibromyalgia’s key symptoms in normal-weight, overweight, and obese female patients. Pain Manag Nurs . 2013 Dec;14:268-276. Disclosure of Interests None declared